Western Australia Places Moratorium on Fracking

The Western Australian government has implemented a ban on fracking on existing and future onshore petroleum titles in the South-West, Peel and Perth metropolitan regions while a moratorium has also been placed on the use of fracking throughout the rest of the state.

The Labor party had promised to implement the ban if it came to power in the elections held in March this year.

"We are delivering our election commitment to conduct a public inquiry into the use of fracking. This will include holding community meetings in Perth, Geraldton and Broome," environment minister Stephen Dawson said September 5.

Western Australia joins Victoria, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania in restricting fracking. The government has ordered an independent scientific inquiry in fracking, chaired by Environmental Protection Authority chairperson Tom Hatton. “The inquiry will use credible scientific and historical evidence to assess each level of risk and outline regulatory mechanisms to identify or minimise these risks,” government said.

Australia is already grappling with shortage of gas in the domestic market, especially in the areas on the east coast.

Shardul Sharma